Explosive Device – IED Discovered
March 25, 2007 by Homeland Security NTARC News
Filed under Homeland Security News
Uniontown PA. An improvised explosive device found in a garbage can in Uniontown on Sunday had city police on high alert.
City Detective Donald M. Gmitter said a resident found the suspicious package while taking out his garbage.
According to Gmitter, Officer David Rutter was dispatched to 52 John St. at 10:15 a.m. after a man called Fayette County 911 and said he found a suspicious package.
Rutter, in an incident report, said 71-year-old Kenneth Weasenworth reported finding two bottles with bullets inside of them in his garbage can, located next to Weasenworth’s residence.
Rutter said two clear plastic bottles were taped together with a can of wood wax spray and that two wicks were visibly sticking out of the bottles.
The bottles, according to Rutter, initially appeared to be empty, except for the bullets.
In the incident report, Rutter said he removed the taped bottles from the garbage can and took the package to the city police station. While transporting the package, Rutter said he noticed the smell of a “flammable liquid.”
Gmitter said the decision was made to call the Allegheny County Bomb Squad and said the police station was secured until the bomb squad arrived.
Chief Ron Kozak was also called and responded to the police station, where the bomb squad took the package apart around 1:30 p.m., Gmitter said.
It took about an hour for package to be dismantled, Gmitter said.
According to Gmitter, a bomb technician determined the package contained 41 different caliber bullets, all live rounds.
Bomb technicians, according to Gmitter, said the package was an improvised explosive device.
Gmitter said it was determined the package had the potential to cause “injury and death.”
However, police said there was no sign the fuse had ever been lit.
Gmitter said it’s possible the bottles were full of a flammable liquid at one point but that some of the liquid may have leaked out.
Gmitter said police don’t know how long the package had been in the garbage can and said the incident is under investigation.
The contents of the package are being sent to the state police barracks in Greensburg for analysis.
Anyone with information about the suspicious package is asked to call Gmitter at 724-430-2929, ext. 310.
